Wheelchair Seating Issues Escalate as Body Weight Increases
Proper adjustment and accommodation for wheelchair seating is more complicated with obese patients. For example, when a bariatric patient is sitting, their body mass may take up more space due to soft tissue areas or chest/abdomen expansion. Overweight individuals may have unique complications in finding comfortable seating due to varying body types and needs. For decades though, a standard wheelchair in the U.S. has typically been designed to measure 18” wide x 16” deep with a 250-pound weight capacity. Today’s standard wheelchair is a tight fit for most of the adult population, especially those who are struggling with obesity.
The medical field today is witnessing a redefinition of the standard for wheelchair sizes across the market, simply due to the rising influx of patients who no longer fit within the boundaries of traditional wheelchairs. A recent survey by a healthcare purchasing group company revealed that nearly half of U.S. hospitals are admitting more morbidly-obese patients than they did just two years ago.
There has been a large demand for wider wheelchairs that can offer flexibility in use by a varying number of patients. The need is twofold, as clinicians are requesting not only wider seats, but also wheelchairs that can support up to 50 pounds more than the 250-pound standard, making 300-pound weight limits a normal request from equipment buyers today.
In response to the market demand, Z&Z Medical has broadened our product line of wheelchairs by rolling out wheelchairs that features a 20” wide seat that is also 18” in depth, and an overall weight capacity to 300 lb. (evenly distributed)
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